Paint color matching and coordinating system

ABSTRACT

A paint color matching and coordinating system comprises an interface for receiving an input reference color, a processor capable of reading a memory, a memory including (1) instructions readable by the processor and (2) a database of architectural paint colors spanning all or most of the known color space, and a display generator. In use, the interface of the system receives an input reference color from a user. The processor selects a “reference paint color” from the database, the reference paint color being visually closer, with respect to color space, to the input reference color than any other paint color in the database. According to the invention, color space is divided into a plurality of fixed, generally equally sized, non-overlapping, contiguous portions, each color space portion being defined as the space of all colors within a band of hues within color space. The processor selects five sets of paint colors—one set from each of the color space portions that include the five hues that comprise the “five-way harmony” of the reference paint color. The processor may also select a sixth set of paint colors from the color space portion that includes the hue of the reference paint color. Finally, the processor directs the display generator to create a display of color samples of the reference paint color and of the first through sixth sets of paint colors.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.§120 to, and is a continuation of, U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/538,664, filed Mar. 30, 2000, entitled “Paint Color Matching andCoordinating System. The foregoing utility patent application (U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/538,664) is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to architectural paintcolors and, specifically, to an architectural paint color matching andcoordinating system.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Architectural paint (“house paint”) is commonly provided invarious colors. Paint color display systems have been developed todisplay various paint color samples to assist consumers in selectingpaint colors. Such systems typically involve a display board, pamphlet,or book having ink-based or paint color samples.

[0006] Paint colors are sometimes referenced with respect to systems forarranging and describing color, generally referred to as color-ordersystems. One well-known color-order system is the Munsell system.According to the Munsell system, colors are characterized by threeattributes: hue, value, and chroma. Hue is the attribute of color whichis commonly described by words such as “red,” “yellow,” “green,” “blue,”“purple,” etc. Value is the attribute of color which is described by thewords “light,” “dark,” etc. Chroma is the attribute of color which isdescribed by the words “bright,” “dull,” etc. For example, the colors ofa tomato and a brick may be equal in hue and value, yet the colors arenot identical. The difference is that the tomato is brighter, having ahigher chroma.

[0007] Munsell color space is a three-dimensional space including anddescribing visual relationships between colors. This color space isbased on a collection of actual physical samples arranged so thatadjacent samples represent distinct intervals of visual colorperception. Although based on physical samples, Munsell color space istheoretically capable of describing all possible colors. According tothe Munsell system, color space is described with respect to threedimensions: hue, value, and chroma. Theoretically, the Munsell locationof every possible color can be described by three coordinates,corresponding to the hue, value, and chroma of the given color. Althoughin theory Munsell color space is capable of describing all colors, it isunderstood that it may not be possible to create physical samples of allof the colors which could theoretically fit within Munsell color space.In particular, not all theoretical colors within the perceived Munsellcolor space can be made into paints.

[0008] Within Munsell color space, a vertical axis, known as the valueaxis, represents color value. In other words, the value(lightness/darkness) of color is determined by the vertical positionwithin color space. Color becomes lighter as the vertical positionincreases. The hue of color is determined by the angular position aboutthe vertical value axis. The various hues, i.e., shades of red, yellow,green, blue, purple, etc., are represented by vertical planes extendingradially from the value axis. Moreover, every angular position about theaxis, from 0° to 360°, represents a different hue. The chroma(brightness/dullness) of color is determined by the radial distance fromthe value axis. Color is dull (gray) near the axis and becomes brighter,or more “chromatic,” as the radial distance from the value axisincreases.

[0009] The Munsell system is one of a number of color-order systemsbased on actual physical samples. Another class of color-order systemsare not based on physical samples. One of the most important of thesesystems is the CIE System (Commission International de l'Eclairage orInternational Commission on Illumination). The premise of the CIE Systemis that the stimulus for color is provided by a proper combination of asource of light, an object, and an observer. The CIE System describescolor with reference to a standard source of illumination and a standardobserver.

[0010] One widely used non-linear transformation of the CIE System isCIELAB, an opponent-type space in which color is described by threecoordinates L, a, and b. In CIELAB space, L is the lightness of color(similar to Munsell value), a is a redness-greenness coordinate, and bis a yellowness-blueness coordinate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides an architectural paint colormatching and coordinating system to assist in complementary paint colorselection. The present invention recognizes that current methods ofdisplaying complementary colors do not effectively assist the consumerin selecting complementary paint colors.

[0012] In one aspect, the present invention provides a method ofgenerating a display or “palette” of complementary architectural paintcolor samples, comprising the steps of (1) receiving an input referencecolor having a reference hue, (2) selecting a first set of architecturalpaint colors having a first hue that is one of the hues comprising thefive-way harmony of the reference hue, and (3) displaying color samplesof the first set of architectural paint colors on one of a displaymonitor or a hard-copy printout.

[0013] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofgenerating a display of complementary architectural paint color samples,comprising the following steps: One step is receiving an input referencecolor. Another step is selecting a reference paint color from a databaseof architectural paint colors within a color space. The reference paintcolor is visually closer, with respect to the color space, to the inputreference color than any other paint color within the database. Each ofthe paint colors within the database is located within only one of aplurality of fixed non-overlapping contiguous portions of the colorspace. Each of the color space portions is defined as the space of allcolors within a band of hues within the color space, the color spaceportions spanning all hues in the color space. The number of the colorspace portions is advantageously at least 30. Another step isdetermining a first of the color space portions, the first color spaceportion including a first hue that is one of the hues comprising thefive-way harmony of the hue of the reference paint color. Another stepis selecting a first set of architectural paint colors from thedatabase, the first set being located within the first color spaceportion. Another step is displaying color samples of the first set ofarchitectural paint colors on one of a display monitor or a hard-copyprintout.

[0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides anarchitectural paint color coordination system for selectingcomplementary architectural paint colors, comprising an interface forreceiving an input reference color, a processor configured to performinstructions read from a memory, a memory storing instructionsconfigured to be read and performed by the processor, and a displaygenerator. The instructions direct the processor to perform the steps ofdirecting the interface to receive an input reference color having areference hue, with respect to a color space; selecting a first set ofarchitectural paint colors having a first hue that is one of the hues ofthe five-way harmony of the reference hue; and directing the displaygenerator to display color samples of the first set of architecturalpaint colors.

[0015] In another aspect, the present invention provides anarchitectural paint color coordination system for selectingcomplementary architectural paint colors, comprising an interface forreceiving an input reference color, a processor configured to performinstructions read from a memory, a memory storing instructions and adatabase of architectural paint colors within a color space, and adisplay generator. The instructions are configured to be read andperformed by the processor. The instructions direct the processor toperform the following steps: The processor directs the interface toreceive an input reference color. The processor selects a referencepaint color from the database. The reference paint color is selected sothat it is visually closer, with respect to the color space, to theinput reference color than all other paint colors within the database.The paint colors within the database are grouped into a plurality ofmutually exclusive sub-sets, each of which subsets of colors beinglocated within only one of a plurality of non-overlapping contiguousportions of the color space. Each of the color space portions is definedas the space of all colors within a band of hues within the color space,the color space portions spanning all hues in the color space. Thenumber of the color space portions is at least 30. The processordetermines a first of the color space portions, the first color spaceportion including a first hue that is one of the hues comprising thefive-way harmony of the hue of the reference paint color. The processorselects from the database a first set of architectural paint colorsbeing located within the first color space portion. The processordirects the display generator to display color samples of the first setof architectural paint colors.

[0016] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofgenerating a display of complementary architectural paint color samples,comprising the following steps. An input reference color is received,and a reference paint color is selected from a database of architecturalpaint colors within a color space. The reference paint color is closerin hue, value, and chroma to the input reference color than any othercolor within the database. The reference paint color has a referencehue, a reference value, and a reference chroma. For every color in thedatabase, there is a predetermined range of hue, a predetermined rangeof value, and a predetermined range of chroma. These predeterminedranges include the hue, value, and chroma, respectively, of the color. A“complementary hue” is determined, which is a hue that is five-wayharmonious with the reference hue. A “matching complementary color” isselected, which is defined as a color in the database that is closer tothe complementary hue, the reference value, and the reference chromathan any other color in the database. First and second “offset colors”are then selected from the database. In one embodiment, the first andsecond offset colors have hues substantially equivalent to endpoints ofthe predetermined range of hue corresponding to the matchingcomplementary color, the hues of the offset colors being within saidpredetermined range on opposite “sides” of the complementary hue. Also,the offset colors have value and chroma substantially equal to thereference value and reference chroma, respectively. Color samples of atleast one of the first and second offset colors are then displayed onone of a display monitor or a hard-copy printout.

[0017] In another embodiment of the method just described, the first andsecond offset colors have values substantially equal to endpoints of thepredetermined range of value corresponding to the matching complementarycolor. The values of the offset colors are within said predeterminedrange, one of such values being higher and the other being lower thanthe reference value. Also, the offset colors have hue and chromasubstantially equal to the complementary hue and reference chroma,respectively. In yet another embodiment of the method just described,the first and second offset colors have chromas substantially equal toendpoints of the predetermined range of chroma corresponding to thematching complementary color. The chromas of the offset colors arewithin said predetermined range, one of such chromas being higher andthe other being lower than the reference chroma. Also, the offset colorshave hue and value substantially equal to the complementary hue andreference value, respectively.

[0018] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides aninventory selection system, comprising an architectural paint colorselection system, a database of inventory, and a processor. Thearchitectural paint color selection system is configured to generate anoutput display of harmonious paint colors and to communicate colorinformation of such paint colors to a processor. The database ofinventory contains color information of items of such inventory. Theprocessor is in communication with the paint color selection system toread the color information of the paint colors. The processor is also incommunication with the database to read the color information of theitems of inventory. The processor is configured to select matchinginventory from the database whose color information is within apredetermined tolerance of the color information of any of the paintcolors generated by the paint color selection system. The processor isalso configured to provide a listing of such matching inventory.

[0019] For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantagesachieved over the prior art, certain objects and advantages of theinvention have been described herein above. Of course, it is to beunderstood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may beachieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention.Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that theinvention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves oroptimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein withoutnecessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein.

[0020] All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope ofthe invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of thepresent invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in theart from the following detailed description of the preferred embodimentshaving reference to the attached figures, the invention not beinglimited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a graphical illustration of theoretical color space;

[0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of theoretical color space;

[0023]FIG. 3 is a horizontal, i.e., uniform value, cross-sectional viewof theoretical color space;

[0024]FIG. 4 is a uniform hue plane of theoretical color space;

[0025]FIG. 5 is a uniform value cross-section of theoretical colorspace, showing a set of six-way harmonious hues;

[0026]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an architectural paint colormatching and coordinating system of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 7 is a uniform value cross-section of an architectural paintcolor space of the present invention, illustrating the division of colorinto a plurality of contiguous fixed non-overlapping color spaceportions;

[0028]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a single color space portionaccording to the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 9 is a uniform value cross-section of the architectural paintcolor space of the present invention, showing a set of generally six-wayharmonious color space portions;

[0030]FIG. 10 is a uniform value partial cross-section of the colorspace of the present invention, showing a single color space portion;

[0031]FIG. 11 is a flowchart diagram showing one embodiment of a controlprogram for the system of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 12 is a-schematic diagram of the architectural paint colormatching and coordinating system of the present invention, illustratingone embodiment of the interface thereof;

[0033]FIG. 13 is a view of a sample monitor screen generated by acomputer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 11, in which theuser is prompted to select a general color group;

[0034]FIG. 14 is a view of a sample monitor screen generated by acomputer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 11, in which theuser is given the option of fine-tuning a color selection;

[0035]FIG. 15 is a view of a sample monitor screen generated by acomputer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 11, in which theuser is given the option of adjusting the value (lightness) of aselected color;

[0036]FIG. 16 is a view of a sample monitor screen generated by acomputer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 11, displaying aselection of alternative color reference systems from which the user maychoose an input reference color;

[0037]FIG. 17 is a view of a sample monitor screen generated by acomputer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 11, displaying aselection of common color names which the user may choose as an inputreference color;

[0038]FIG. 18 is a view of a sample monitor screen generated by acomputer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 11, instructing theuser how to scan an input reference color into the system from aphysical sample;

[0039]FIG. 19 is a view of a sample monitor screen generated by acomputer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 11, displaying oneembodiment of a palette of harmonious paint colors;

[0040]FIG. 20 is a view of a sample monitor screen generated by acomputer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 11, displaying analternative embodiment of a palette of harmonious paint colors;

[0041]FIG. 21 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an in-storekiosk version of the system of the present invention;

[0042]FIG. 22 is a schematic view of a multiple kiosk embodiment of thesystem of the present invention; and

[0043]FIG. 23 shows one embodiment of a paint color display card of apaint color display system usable in conjunction with the paint colormatching and coordinating system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0044] This application hereby incorporates by reference, in itsentirety, the commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/538,659, entitled “Display System Facilitating Paint Color Selectionand Coordination,” filed on Mar. 30, 2000 (hereinafter “Display SystemPatent Application”).

[0045] In general, any of a variety of color languages may be used todescribe color. These languages have been developed to describequalities which are visually perceived. The teachings and claims of thisinvention are directed toward that which is visually perceived, whichmay be described by the use of any color language. Although theinvention is described with reference to a particular color languagesystem described below, the invention is not intended to be limited tothat context. In other words, it is contemplated that other colorlanguage systems could also be used to describe the present invention.

[0046] The present invention recognizes that it is useful to organizearchitectural paint colors with reference to hue, value, and chroma ascontemplated by a theoretical color system. To describe the invention,it will be helpful to provide a context for the discussion of color,including a three-dimensional color space model and some principlesconcerning complementary colors.

[0047] An appropriate theoretical three-dimensional color space isgraphically illustrated in FIG. 1. A vertical value axis 20 is shown.The value of color, i.e., the lightness or darkness of color, isdetermined by the vertical position within color space. Color becomeslighter as the vertical position increases. The hue of color, i.e., thequality of color which is described by the words “red,” “yellow,” etc.,is determined by the angular position about value axis 20. The chroma,i.e., brightness, of color is determined by the radial distance fromvalue axis 20. Chroma is equal to 0 at the value axis 20. The colorspace is described below with respect to each of the individualdimensions value, hue, and chroma.

[0048] According to the system, color has a finite value (lightness)range. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, value axis 20 has a finite length. Bydefinition, the minimum value of color is 0, represented at the bottompoint 22 of value axis 20, and the maximum value of color is 100,represented at the top point 24 of value axis 20. Value axis 20represents varying lightness shades of gray, with the darker grays beingnearer to the bottom of the axis and the lighter grays being nearer tothe top. The bottom point 22 of value axis 20 has zero lightness andcorresponds to pure black, the darkest color. Moreover, only pure blackhas a value equal to 0. Thus, color space converges at point 22 of valueaxis 20. The top point 24 of value axis 20 has maximum lightness andcorresponds to pure white, the lightest color. Moreover, only pure whitehas a value equal to 100. Thus, color space converges at point 24 ofvalue axis 20. Due to the convergence of color space at the endpoints22, 24 of value axis 20, color space has a cocoon-like shape, as shownin FIG. 2.

[0049] According to the system, color also has a finite hue range. Colorhue is limited to the angular positions spanning 0° to 360° about valueaxis 20. As the angular position about the axis changes, colortransitions through a fixed sequence of hues. FIG. 3 shows a horizontalcross-section of color space, intersecting value axis 20 between theendpoints 22 and 24 shown in FIG. 1. In other words, FIG. 3 shows aplane within color space, having a uniform value between 0 and 100. Asshown in FIG. 3, in the counter-clockwise direction about the valueaxis, hue transitions through the following generalized sequence: red,pink, violet, purple, blue, aqua, green, yellow, and orange. Of course,the colors indicated in FIG. 3 will be lighter or darker for differentvalues between 0 (point 22) and 100 (point 24).

[0050] In addition to indicating variations in hue, the planarcross-section of theoretical color space represented by FIG. 3 alsoillustrates chromatic variations in the space. Color becomes brighter asthe distance from the value axis 20 increases. Positions far from thevalue axis are very bright, or chromatic, while positions near the valueaxis are dull and more grayish. In theory, there is no limit to thepossible chroma (brightness) of color having any given hue. However, inpractice, color has a limited range of chroma, due to the fact thatcolors having chroma beyond a certain limit have not been discovered. Inparticular, for any given value and hue, color has a limited knownchroma range. The word “known” is used to indicate that, for a given hueand value, higher chroma are not known to exist. The known chroma rangeis from 0 at the value axis 20 to an outer radial limit. The outerradial limit of the known chroma range varies for different values andhues. For example, a light yellow has a greater maximum known chromathan does a darker yellow. A dark red has a different maximum knownchroma than does a light blue.

[0051]FIG. 4 illustrates the varying known chroma range of color in thetheoretical color space. FIG. 4 shows a uniform hue plane of the space,i.e., a “slice” of color space corresponding to a single hue. Inparticular, a vertical plane is shown passing through the value axis 20and extending radially outward therefrom. This is essentially a knownchroma range profile for a given hue. The profile shown in FIG. 4 istypical of most hues within color space. As shown, the uniform hue planehas a straight edge, corresponding to the value axis 20, and a curvededge 28 corresponding to the highest known chroma for any given value.For example, consider a point A on the curved edge 28. Point A has avalue V_(A) and a chroma C_(A). Thus, at the value V_(A), the highestknown chroma within the displayed hue plane of the space is C_(A).Within the uniform hue plane, the known chroma range varies with value.At the bottom of the value axis, the known chroma range converges at thepoint 22. As the value increases, the known chroma range becomes larger.The maximum known chroma range within the displayed hue plane is at thevalue V_(M), at which the known chroma ranges from zero at the valueaxis to C_(M) on the line 28. The point M corresponds to the brightestcolor having the hue of the uniform hue plane. As the value increasesabove V_(M), the known chroma range decreases. At the top of the valueaxis, the known chroma range converges at the point 24. It is understoodthat in practice it may not be possible to create all of the morechromatic colors of a given hue, particularly for architectural paints.

[0052] For any given reference hue there exists a set of fivecomplementary hues. This set is referred to as the “five-way harmony” ofthe reference hue. FIG. 5 is a uniform value cross-section oftheoretical color space depicting the entire spectrum of hues. FIG. 5graphically illustrates the five-way harmony of a reference huerepresented by the line 30 extending radially outward from the valueaxis 20. The hues comprising the five-way harmony are those hues thatare angularly displaced from the reference hue, line 30, by 60°, 120°,180°, 240°, and 300° about the value axis 20. In FIG. 5, the huescomprising the five way-harmony of the reference hue, line 30, arerepresented by lines 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35. More generally, any five ofthe hues 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 comprise the five-way harmony of thesixth hue from this set. For convenience, any set of six hues that areangularly displaced in increments of 60° about the value axis 20 will bereferred to herein as a “six-way harmony,” and will be described as“six-way harmonious.” The hues represented by lines 32 and 34, i.e., thehues that are angularly displaced from the reference hue 30 by 120° and240° about the value axis 20, are known as “split-complements” of thereference hue. The set of lines 30, 32, and 34 graphically represent“split-complementary” hues. Six-way harmonious hues andsplit-complementary hues are understood to be aesthetically pleasingwhen displayed together. The term “complementary” will be used herein tomean five-way harmonious.

[0053]FIG. 6 schematically shows an architectural paint color matchingand coordinating system 36 of the present invention. The system 36comprises an interface 38, a processor 40, a memory 42 storinginstructions 46 and a database 48 of color information of architecturalpaint colors, and a display generator 44, such as a television monitoror a printer. The color information stored in the database 48 maycomprise reference coordinates describing the locations of the storedpaint colors, with respect to any color-order system. The colorinformation may comprise hue, value, and chroma or CIELAB coordinates,or the appropriate identifiers for any other color identification systemfor the paint colors. In a preferred embodiment, the color informationadvantageously comprises D65 CIELAB identifiers for all the stored paintcolors. In use, the system 36 receives an input reference color from auser and generates an output display having color samples of variousmatching and complementary architectural paint colors. Specifically, thedisplay includes color samples from the five-way harmony of the inputreference color. The system 36 may be advantageously used in a retailenvironment to assist consumers in architectural paint color selectionand coordination of complementary architectural paint colors. In oneembodiment, the system 36 is configured as an in-store kiosk, as shownin FIG. 21, described below.

[0054] In accordance with the invention, a database 48 of about 65,000architectural paint colors has been created, spanning a wide range ofhue, value, and chroma. These paint color samples form an independentcolor space which is the basis for an architectural paint color displaysystem described in the above-identified Display System PatentApplication. These paint color samples have been arranged according tothe guiding principle that adjacent samples should represent equalintervals of visual color perception. In a preferred embodiment, thesepaint color samples are arranged in accordance with the generaldimensions of the theoretical color. space outlined above. In otherwords, the samples are arranged with reference to a vertical value axis20, with chroma varying with the radial distance from the value axis andvalue varying with the vertical position relative to the value axis.

[0055] Preferably, the color space defined by the architectural paintcolors included within the database 48 spans the entire visible spectrumof hues which are known to exist and are represented within currentlyknown color-order systems. Optionally, the database 48 may exclude thosecolors for which architectural paints are not useful or desirable. Forexample, architectural paint colors having very low chroma (dull) orvery high (light) or very low (dark) value are generally unused and,thus, are preferably excluded from the database 48. The system 36 usesthe database 48 to select a reference paint color and to selectcomplementary paint colors, as described below.

[0056]FIG. 7 shows a uniform value cross-section of the color space ofthe present invention, illustrating a plurality of fixed non-overlappingcontiguous portions 50 of color space. Each of these color spaceportions 50 is defined as the space of all colors within a band of hueswithin the color space. The color space portions 50 preferably span allhues in the color space. Preferably, the hue spans of the portions 50vary, so that each portion represents a visually meaningful andgenerally distinct family of colors. Alternatively, all of the portions50 may span an equally sized range of hues. FIG. 8 is a perspective viewof a color space portion 50. As shown in FIG. 8, the color space portion50 resembles a narrow curved wedge converging at the value axis 20.

[0057] Preferably, the number of color space portions 50 is sufficientlyhigh so that each portion has a perceptually uniform hue. In otherwords, the portions 50 are preferably narrow so that a viewer cannotperceive large differences between colors of different hue within asingle portion 50. An advantage of having narrow color space portions isthat each portion may represent a nearly uniform hue. There arepreferably at least 30 color space portions 50, in which case the meanhue span of the color space portions 12° about the value axis 20. Inanother preferred embodiment, there are 90 color space portions 50, inwhich case the mean hue span of the color space portions is 4° about thevalue axis 20. In yet another preferred embodiment, there are 91 colorspace portions, but only 84 are used in the paint color matching andcoordinating system of the present invention, described below. Seven ofthe color space portions are not used because they represent colorswhich have a high degree of perceptual similarity to adjacent colorspace portions, and are thus difficult to distinguish.

[0058]FIG. 23 is one embodiment of a set of paint color display cards200 of the paint color display system described in the Display SystemPatent Application, usable in conjunction with the paint color matchingand coordinating system of the present invention. The display cards 200preferably include a two-dimensional array of architectural paint colorsamples substantially spanning one of the 90 color space portions 50 ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention. The paint colorsamples are colors from the architectural paint color database describedabove. In one dimension of the two-dimensional array, the display cardsshow an increasing value, while in the other dimension the display cardsshow an increasing chroma. In the illustrated embodiment, cards 200include 48 paint color samples 202. The dotted lines and labels (C1, C2,. . . and D1, D2, . . . ) indicate the card positions of each of thecolor samples. For example, the bottom-left sample is located at (C1,D1).

[0059] Tables 1 and 2, below, provide two examples of a suitableselection of architectural paint colors for one or more paint colordisplay cards or other display pattern or arrangement usable inconjunction with the paint color matching and coordinating system of theinvention. These tables each list a selection of paint colors and theircorresponding coordinates (C1, D1, etc.) according to the arrangement ofcolor samples shown on the display cards 200 of FIG. 23. The colors areidentified by D65 CIELab coordinates (L, a, b), as known in the art.Each table describes a display having a two-dimensional array of paintcolor samples. In particular, the arrays have an increasing value in onedimension and an increasing chroma in the other dimension. Moreover, alladjacent samples represent substantially equal intervals of visual colorperception.

[0060] Also, each set of display cards 200 includes a border colorsurrounding the above-mentioned color samples. The border color ispreferably the same color as, or similar to, the high chroma colorcorresponding to the color space portion represented by the displaycard. Tables 1 and 2 also indicate the D65 CIELab coordinates for theborder color of each represented card. TABLE 1 First Example of SamplePaint Colors on a Display Card as in FIG. 23 Position Position L a bBorder Border 56.576 −48.668 15.151 C1 D1 95.749 −7.166 1.807 C1  D1143.196 −42.056 13.155 C1 D3 90.585 −17.469 2.849 C1 D5 84.034 −27.7845.182 C1 D7 73.922 −40.652 10.098 C1 D9 61.145 −48.165 14.571 C2  D1052.054 −37.281 10.160 C2  D12 35.518 −28.277 7.976 C2 D2 92.171 −10.7941.542 C2 D4 86.755 −18.254 2.427 C2 D6 78.867 −29.947 5.492 C2 D8 67.686−39.256 10.346 C3 D1 94.706 −6.558 1.931 C3  D11 42.292 −23.375 4.500 C3D3 88.570 −11.952 1.215 C3 D5 82.123 −20.097 2.805 C3 D7 71.652 −31.1486.967 C3 D9 57.049 −33.736 8.383 C4  D10 51.271 −24.808 4.268 C4  D1234.956 −15.711 2.195 C4 D2 90.970 −7.728 1.216 C4 D4 84.856 −12.7661.207 C4 D6 77.345 −20.179 2.717 C4 D8 66.829 −30.498 6.788 C5 D1 94.045−4.514 1.306 C5  D11 42.301 −15.153 0.829 C5 D3 87.282 −8.594 0.970 C5D5 80.754 −14.712 1.469 C5 D7 72.367 −22.851 4.401 C5 D9 57.358 −24.7614.259 C6  D10 51.707 −16.988 0.832 C6  D12 35.695 −10.496 −0.340 C6 D289.998 −5.509 1.167 C6 D4 83.506 −8.662 0.624 C6 D6 76.980 −16.982 1.927C6 D8 66.243 −21.840 3.132 C7 D1 93.647 −2.596 1.419 C7  D11 42.885−9.746 −1.499 C7 D3 86.317 −5.672 0.418 C7 D5 79.709 −9.711 0.881 C7 D772.597 −15.354 2.533 C7 D9 57.311 −16.843 1.105 C8  D10 52.153 −10.418−1.586 C8  D12 36.436 −6.580 −2.179 C8 D2 89.581 −3.353 0.812 C8 D482.522 −5.182 0.392 C8 D6 76.869 −11.096 0.721 C8 D8 66.442 −14.2950.305

[0061] TABLE 2 Second Example of Sample Paint Colors on a Display Cardas in FIG. 23 C D L a b Border Border 66.584 −43.148 2.994 C1 D1 95.136−7.424 0.110 C1  D11 33.473 −31.330 7.197 C1 D3 90.924 −15.407 −0.856 C1D5 82.830 −27.128 −0.753 C1 D7 66.398 −43.051 3.610 C1 D9 46.500 −41.9625.264 C2  D10 38.607 −34.256 4.548 C2  D12 30.267 −20.923 3.679 C2 D293.675 −10.791 −0.024 C2 D4 88.150 −19.789 −1.128 C2 D6 75.565 −36.0651.055 C2 D8 58.542 −45.571 4.899 C3 D1 94.824 −6.660 0.067 C3  D1129.601 −14.338 −0.047 C3 D3 90.667 −13.307 −1.020 C3 D5 82.118 −23.691−0.935 C3 D7 64.555 −35.222 1.376 C3 D9 43.850 −28.705 0.827 C4  D1036.768 −16.472 −1.740 C4  D12 29.026 −10.799 −1.279 C4 D2 93.105 −8.140−0.203 C4 D4 86.777 −13.702 −1.049 C4 D6 72.518 −25.597 −0.865 C4 D856.538 −31.050 0.389 C5 D1 93.417 −5.240 −0.031 C5  D11 30.394 −9.510−2.184 C5 D3 89.199 −9.527 −1.183 C5 D5 80.583 −17.951 −1.596 C5 D762.505 −25.430 −1.163 C5 D9 43.862 −18.699 −2.203 C6  D10 36.823 −10.731−3.143 C6  D12 27.887 −6.495 −2.125 C6 D2 92.564 −5.956 −0.201 C6 D485.674 −10.032 −1.205 C6 D6 71.846 −19.503 −1.294 C6 D8 55.865 −22.195−1.808 C7 D1 92.490 −4.861 −0.087 C7  D11 31.368 −6.729 −3.031 C7 D388.796 −6.741 −0.663 C7 D5 80.111 −13.123 −1.493 C7 D7 62.234 −17.994−2.818 C7 D9 44.176 −12.402 −3.521 C8  D10 37.387 −6.881 −3.912 C8  D1230.148 −6.445 −2.819 C8 D2 92.122 −4.362 −0.111 C8 D4 84.756 −6.862−1.081 C8 D6 70.551 −12.951 −1.706 C8 D8 56.322 −15.063 −3.212

[0062] As mentioned above, in one preferred embodiment, the color spaceis divided into 91 color space portions, but only 84 are displayed. Eachcolor space portion includes one “high-chroma color” that issubstantially the most chromatic color therein. The complete set ofhigh-chroma colors generally describes how the color space has beenparticularly divided into a set of distinct color space portions. Table3, below, identifies a complete set of 91 high-chroma colors for adivision of the color space into 91 distinct color space portions(“CSPs”), according to the above-mentioned preferred embodiment of theinvention. In particular, the high-chroma colors are identified by D65CIELab coordinates (L, a, b) and also by Lch (L, c, h) coordinates, asknown in the art. The color information for ma colors within the sevennon-displayed color space portions is italicized. TABLE 3 High ChromaColor for Each Color Space Portion (CSP) CSP L a b c h 1  86.054 −4.39684.807 84.920 92.967 2  81.947 −9.799 78.475 79.084 97.117 3  79.065−18.438 74.278 76.533 103.940 4  75.986 −27.793 68.528 73.950 112.076 5 73.891 −32.697 64.524 72.335 116.873 6  71.705 −35.644 61.676 71.235120.025 7  67.049 −43.533 54.368 69.649 128.685 8  65.407 −45.240 51.48368.536 131.307 9  64.057 −46.633 48.156 67.035 134.080 10 62.030 −48.33344.602 65.769 137.299 11 60.439 −49.898 41.262 64.748 140.411 12 59.248−50.507 37.121 62.681 143.685 13 57.691 −50.791 30.603 59.299 148.930 1458.241 −50.335 23.836 55.694 154.660 15 56.924 −49.450 19.510 53.159158.469 16 57.461 −48.047 14.182 50.097 163.555 17 55.569 −45.485 7.68846.131 170.407 18 57.580 −45.338 6.170 45.756 172.250 19 56.795 −44.7264.459 44.948 174.306 20 55.238 −43.486 0.840 43.494 178.893 21 56.676−40.998 −6.136 41.455 188.512 22 54.613 −39.564 −9.046 40.585 192.879 2362.586 −36.794 −15.187 39.805 202.428 24 61.489 −34.467 −20.109 39.904210.261 25 61.099 −30.921 −25.878 40.321 219.926 26 60.356 −28.029−30.395 41.346 227.318 27 60.182 −25.986 −33.232 42.186 231.976 2860.676 −23.517 −36.587 43.493 237.269 29 60.406 −22.653 −36.876 43.278238.438 30 59.806 −21.626 −37.276 43.095 239.880 31 59.372 −20.903−37.610 43.028 240.936 32 59.017 −19.480 −38.020 42.720 242.872 3358.386 −15.985 −39.048 42.193 247.738 34 48.826 −9.602 −40.920 42.032256.794 35 47.485 −7.371 −41.735 42.381 259.984 36 47.219 −5.449 −42.45642.805 262.686 37 45.720 −3.127 −42.715 42.830 265.813 38 43.564 1.180−39.786 39.804 271.699 39 42.996 4.214 −37.900 38.133 276.345 40 43.6216.256 −36.360 36.894 279.763 41 42.681 7.274 −35.411 36.150 281.608 4243.164 9.235 −34.614 35.825 284.939 43 43.262 10.620 −33.786 35.415287.449 44 42.555 12.339 −32.438 34.706 290.827 45 42.235 13.179 −32.07734.678 292.336 46 42.726 14.434 −31.048 34.239 294.934 47 42.335 17.218−29.386 34.059 300.368 48 47.119 20.297 −27.396 34.096 306.534 49 44.22520.354 −27.345 34.089 306.662 50 45.124 22.342 −26.617 34.751 310.010 5149.329 25.949 −24.411 35.627 316.750 52 48.755 29.612 −21.498 36.593324.021 53 49.692 34.983 −18.751 39.691 331.808 54 47.939 38.418 −16.41441.778 336.865 55 47.895 45.914 −11.801 47.407 345.586 56 47.059 47.225−8.361 47.959 349.960 57 50.455 48.554 −6.377 48.971 352.518 58 39.45149.821 18.841 53.264 20.715 59 41.654 52.211 22.428 56.825 23.247 6042.251 52.719 27.394 59.411 27.457 61 42.968 52.191 28.486 59.459 28.62662 43.844 52.614 31.005 61.070 30.510 63 44.508 53.376 33.336 62.93131.987 64 45.388 54.976 36.021 65.725 33.233 65 46.012 54.709 36.38265.701 33.624 66 46.574 56.164 37.746 67.669 33.904 67 47.366 55.82038.396 67.751 34.522 68 51.133 58.007 40.163 70.554 34.698 69 48.18956.519 42.529 70.733 36.960 70 50.774 57.315 44.359 72.475 37.738 7151.808 57.225 46.231 73.566 38.934 72 54.754 57.449 51.897 77.418 42.09373 56.010 56.091 53.142 77.268 43.454 74 56.558 54.293 53.471 76.20344.563 75 58.058 52.498 55.338 76.278 46.508 76 59.550 51.089 56.96776.520 48.114 77 61.405 48.632 60.152 77.352 51.045 78 63.604 46.48963.972 79.080 53.994 79 64.266 45.492 65.088 79.411 55.049 80 67.25240.718 68.992 80.112 59.451 81 69.032 37.488 72.376 81.509 62.617 8273.777 29.357 80.145 85.352 69.882 83 74.317 27.964 81.627 86.284 71.08984 75.228 26.063 82.921 86.921 72.551 85 77.617 20.689 85.263 87.73776.361 86 78.691 17.243 87.015 88.707 78.791 87 79.900 14.013 87.94089.050 80.946 88 81.522 8.228 90.741 91.113 84.819 89 81.975 7.16390.039 90.323 85.451 90 81.940 6.027 88.580 88.785 86.107 91 82.7713.659 87.973 88.049 87.618

[0063] As mentioned above, colors having hues which are angularlyseparated by increments of 60° about the value axis 20 are six-wayharmonious. Colors having hues separated by increments of approximately60° are “nearly six-way harmonious” and exhibit substantially the sameaesthetic benefits of harmony when displayed together. Narrow colorspace portions 50 which are angularly separated by approximately 60°,120°, 180°, 240°, or 300°, as shown in FIG. 9, are described herein as“generally six-way harmonious.” Colors within generally six-wayharmonious color space portions 50 are at least nearly, if not exactly,six-way harmonious. In other words, any color within one of saidgenerally six-way harmonious color space portions 50, shown in FIG. 9,is at least nearly six-way harmonious with any color within another ofsaid generally six-way harmonious color space portions 50.

[0064] All of the paint colors in the database 48 are graphicallylocated within one of the portions 50 of the present invention. For eachpaint color, the database 48 preferably includes an identification ofthe color space portion 50 within which the paint color is located. FIG.10 illustrates this concept. Suppose the database 48 includes a paintcolor graphically represented in the color space of the presentinvention by the point I having a value V_(I). FIG. 10 is a partialcross-section of the color space having a uniform value equal to V_(I),the point I is graphically located within a color space portion 50 _(I)within the color space. Preferably, in addition to storing the paintcolor represented by the point I, the database stores a linkedidentification of the color space portion 50 _(I). Thus, for any paintcolor, such as point I, the processor 40 can determine the color spaceportion thereof, such as portion 50 _(I), simply by reading thisinformation from the memory 42.

[0065] The interface 38 of the system 36 is configured to receive an“input reference color” from the user. This is a color that the userprovides. The input reference color can be any color. The system 36 thendetermines a “reference paint color,” which is the architectural paintcolor from the database 48 that most closely matches the input referencecolor. The system uses the reference paint color as a reference togenerate complementary paint colors, as described below.

[0066] The interface 38 is preferably configured to allow the user toselect an input reference color in several ways. First, the user canselect the input reference color from a video or physical display ofarchitectural paint colors. Second, the user can identify the inputreference color by inputting a color identification, such as (1) a coloridentification code that describes the input reference color withrespect to a known color-reference system or color database, or (2) acommon color name (e.g., “Blush”). Third, the user can scan the inputreference color into the system 36 from a physical specimen, such as acloth, paper, carpet, painting, photograph, curtain, painted wood piece,etc. These aspects of the interface 38 are described in greater detailbelow. Depending on the method by which the user selects the inputreference color, the input reference color and the reference paint colormay be the exact same color.

[0067]FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a control program for thesystem 36. Accordingly, the user and the processor 40 communicatethrough the interface 38 (FIG. 12). Initially, when a user initiates asession, the processor 40 requests that the user select one of theavailable methods of selecting an input reference color (step 100). Oncein the command state, 102, the user then chooses an input referencecolor selection method, one of steps 104, 114, 126, or 134.

[0068] As mentioned above, according to one selection method of thesystem 36, the user can select an input reference color from a displayof architectural paint colors (step 104). Preferably, the interface 38may advantageously comprise an architectural paint color display 52 anda selector 54, as indicated in FIG. 12. The display 52 displays colorsamples of architectural paint colors to the user. These paint colorsare preferably the paint colors stored within the database 48, in whichcase the input reference color selected by the user is also thereference paint color. Any of a variety of different types of displayscan be used, such as boards, pamphlets, or a monitor, keeping in mindthe goal of displaying architectural paint colors. The selector 54 is adevice which allows the user to select the input reference color fromamong the colors displayed on the display 52. Any of a variety ofdifferent types of selectors can be used, such as a keyboard, mouse, ortouch-screen display, giving due consideration to the goals ofconveniently selecting a paint color and, optionally, operating aselection program.

[0069] The display 52 can display some or all of the colors within thearchitectural paint color database 48. In one embodiment, the display 52comprises a CRT or a flat matrix array screen. The colors shown on thescreen can be controlled by a computer program stored on the memory 42.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an input color selectioncomputer program is provided which instructs the processor 40 to querythe user for a color group display request (step 106). The processorsends a sampling of different colors to the screen 52, as shown, forexample, in FIG. 13. The user has the option of selecting any of thedisplayed colors. Such a selection serves as a request to view a groupof paint colors, such as a sampling of colors from a selected colorspace portion 50. Upon receiving the user's request (step 108), theprocessor 40 accesses the selected color groups from the database 48 andsends them to the screen 52 (step 110). If the user does not select anyof the displayed colors, the processor sends another color group displayrequest (step 112). In this manner, the user can selectively scrollthrough colors or color groups from the database 48. The user can thenuse the selector 54, such as a keyboard, mouse, touch-screen, or otherdata-entry means, to select a displayed color.

[0070] Preferably, the user is given the option to fine-tune his or hercolor selection. FIG. 14 shows a sample monitor screen offering the userthe option to fine tune the color selection. Displayed on the screen area sampling of different paint colors having substantially the same hueas the color selected from the screen of FIG. 13. The colors displayedon the screen of FIG. 14 preferably comprise a two-dimensional array ofcolors spanning ranges of value and chroma that are particularly suitedfor architectural paint. Advantageously, the user is given a wideselection of colors to choose from. The user can adjust the value orchroma of the entire display of colors by clicking on the arrows. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, the user can adjust the value ofall of the colors on the display by clicking on the arrows labeled“darker” and “lighter.” Also, the screen of FIG. 14 preferably has acolor comparison portion, as shown on the right in the illustratedembodiment, wherein the user can compare a presently selected color witha previously selected color. Eventually, the user settles on a color asthe input reference color. In alternative embodiments, the display 52may comprise a display card or board showing paint colors of thedatabase 48. In these embodiments, the colors may be numbered to allowthe user to select an input reference color by inputting one of thenumbers into the system 36.

[0071]FIG. 15 shows a sample monitor screen in which the user can adjustthe value of a selected color, and compare the adjusted color to theoriginal color, by clicking on the arrows labelled “lighter” and“darker.”

[0072] One problem that may occur as a result of using a televisionmonitor or flat matrix array screen as the display 52 is that thedisplayed colors may not accurately depict the displayed paint colors.Also, different monitors may have different settings (e.g., brightness,contrast, etc.) which may result in non-uniformity of displayed colorsbetween the different monitors. For these reasons, the monitors arepreferably calibrated periodically to a standard setting. Also, highquality video cards are preferably used to produce a more accuratedisplay.

[0073] In one optional aspect of the system 36, the user can also chooseto select an input reference color by entering a color identificationcode that identifies a color based upon an alternative color referencesystem or database (step 114). This feature is helpful to users that arefamiliar with other color reference systems. For example, the user maywish to enter a code based upon a well-known color reference system usedby a company that sells goods provided in a spectrum of colors, such astextiles, inks, or paint. The input color selection program can providethis option to the user. Accordingly, the memory 42 includes colorinformation of colors within various alternative color referencesystems. In addition, for every color within such alternative colorreference systems, the memory 42 includes an indication of thearchitectural paint color within the paint color database 48 that isvisually closest to it, with respect to a color-order system. Forexample, the memory may include a look-up table indicating whichdatabase paint color is closest in hue, value, and chroma or,alternatively, closest in CIELAB coordinates, to the input referencecolor selected from the alternative color reference system.

[0074] According to this method, the processor 40 requests the user toselect an alternative color-reference system (step 116), such as, forexample, one used by a paint company. The user chooses from a selectionof such alternative color reference systems or databases stored in thememory 42. FIG. 16 shows a sample monitor screen providing the user aselection of alternative color reference systems. Upon receiving theuser's selection (step 118), the processor requests a coloridentification code that identifies a color of the selectedcolor-reference system (step 120). The user can then enter a coloridentification code based on the chosen alternative color referencesystem, to identify the input reference color. The processor receivesthe user's color selection (step 122) and searches the memory 42 to findthe input reference color. The processor then finds the paint colorwithin the paint color database 48 that is the closest match to theinput reference color (step 124). In other words, the input referencecolor may not exactly correspond with an architectural paint color inthe database 48, due to the arbitrary selection of colors in thedifferent color-reference systems. Therefore, the processor 40 finds theclosest match. The paint color that the processor selects from thedatabase is the reference paint color.

[0075] In another optional aspect of the system 36, the user can alsochoose to select the input reference color by entering a common colorname (e.g., “Blush”) (step 126). The memory 42 includes a database ofcommon color names which correspond to architectural paint colors withinthe database 48. According to this method, the processor 40 requests theuser to select or enter a color name (step 128) as the input referencecolor. The user simply chooses from a displayed selection of such colornames. FIG. 17 shows a sample monitor screen providing the user with aselection of common color names. Alternatively, the user can enter acolor name, which may or may not be known by the system 36. Uponreceiving the user's selection (step 130), the processor 40 reads whichpaint color from the database 48 corresponds to the input referencecolor (step 132). The corresponding paint color is the reference paintcolor.

[0076] In another optional aspect of the system 36, the user can chooseto scan the input reference color into the system 36 from a physicalspecimen, such as a paper, cloth, carpet, etc (step 134). Accordingly,the processor 40 requests the user to scan the input reference colorinto the system 36 (step 136). The interface 38 preferably includes aspectrophotometer, a device which can read color from a physicalspecimen and determine the color's hue, value, and chroma. The user usesthe spectrophotometer to scan the input reference color into the system36. To scan a color into the system 36, the user simply places a portionof the specimen under a scanning region of the spectrophotometer, saidportion having the color which is desired to be scanned. The input colorselection program preferably allows the user to directly control thespectrophotometer via a mouse, keyboard, touch-screen, or other control.Once activated, the spectrophotometer analyzes the color under thescanning region, i.e., the input reference color, to determine its colorinformation. FIG. 18 shows a sample monitor screen instructing the userhow to scan a color into the system. Upon receiving the scanned color(step 138), the processor searches the paint color database 48 to findan architectural paint color that is the closest match to the inputreference color (step 140). The closest match from the database 48 isthe reference paint color. In one embodiment, a SpectroEye TM,manufactured by Gretag Macbeth of New Windsor, N.Y., is used to scan theinput reference color. The SpectroEye TM provides D65 CIELAB coordinatesof the input reference color, which are compared with D65 CIELABcoordinates of the paint colors stored in the database 48.

[0077] Once the input reference color is received by the interface 38,the processor 40 determines the reference paint color as describedabove, depending on the method by which the input reference color isselected by the user. At this point the processor 40 has determined thecolor information of the reference paint color. The processor 40 isconfigured to perform complementary color selection instructions 46,i.e., a program, stored in the memory 42 (FIG. 6). The instructions 46direct the processor 40 to select complementary architectural paintcolors in the following manner: The processor 40 determines a first hue(step 142), which is one of the hues comprising the five-way harmony ofthe hue of the reference paint color selected by the user. The processor40 then determines a first color space portion (step 144), defined asthe color space portion 50 that includes the first hue. The processor 40selects from the paint color database 48 a first set of architecturalpaint colors located within the first color space portion (step 146).Finally, the processor 40 directs the display generator 44 to generatean output display including color samples of the first set ofarchitectural paint colors (step 150). In addition, the displaygenerator can be directed to include within the display a color sampleof the reference paint color selected by the user.

[0078] The instructions 46 may advantageously direct the processor 40 toexecute the same sequence of steps for each of the other four hues thatcomprise the five-way harmony of the hue of the reference paint color(step 148). Accordingly, the processor 40 determines second, third,fourth, and fifth hues which collectively, along with the first hue,comprise the five-way harmony of the hue of the reference paint color.The processor 40 determines second, third, fourth, and fifth color spaceportions, defined as the color space portions 50 that include thesecond, third, fourth, and fifth hues, respectively. The processor 40selects from the paint color database 48 second, third, fourth, andfifth sets of architectural paint colors located within the second,third, fourth, and fifth color space portions, respectively. Finally,the processor 40 directs the display generator 44 to generate colorsamples of the second, third, fourth, and fifth sets of architecturalpaint colors. If desired, the display generator 44 can generate a singleoutput display including color samples of all of the first through fifthsets of architectural paint colors.

[0079] In addition to complementary architectural paint colors, the usermay wish to see some color samples having the same or nearly the samehue as the reference paint color, yet having different values andchroma. The instructions 46 may advantageously direct the processor 40to select several color samples from within the same color space portion50 of the reference paint color selected by the user. In accordance withthis feature, the processor 40 determines a sixth color space portiondefined as the color space portion 50 which includes the reference paintcolor. The processor 40 selects from the paint color database 48 a sixthset of architectural paint colors located within the sixth color spaceportion. Finally, the processor 40 directs the display generator 44 togenerate an output display including color samples of the sixth set ofarchitectural paint colors. If desired, the display generator 44 cangenerate a single display including samples from all six sets describedabove. In this manner, the output display will show colors from withinthe entire six-way harmony that includes the reference paint colorselected by the user.

[0080] All of the color samples generated by the system 36 areadvantageously selected from within particular color space portions 50as described above. With respect to value and chroma, the size of suchcolor space portions is only limited by the ability to producearchitectural paint colors. However, the user may wish to see colorsamples that have the same or nearly the same value and chroma as thereference paint color. In selecting each of the aforementioned sets ofarchitectural paint colors, the processor 40 can be directed to selectpaint colors from within either (1) the entire space of the source colorspace portion, or, more narrowly, (2) the space within a predeterminedor user-specified range of value and chroma which may or may not includethe value and chroma of the reference paint color. For example, inselecting the first set of complementary paint colors, the processor 40can be instructed to select colors from (1) the entire first color spaceportion, or from (2) a sub-portion of the first color space portion, thesub-portion including a range of value and chroma which may or may notinclude the value and chroma of the reference paint color. An advantageof selecting samples from a sub-portion that contains the value andchroma of the reference paint color is that the output display samplecolors will generally be nearer to the lightness and brightness levelsof the reference paint color, as may be desired by the user. Theselected color samples are preferably selected so that the values andchroma thereof “surround” the value and chroma of the reference paintcolor. In this case, the total value range of the selected color samplesis preferably less than 60, more preferably less than 50, morepreferably less than 40, more preferably less than 30, more preferablyless than 20, and even more preferably less than 10. The total chromarange of the selected color samples is preferably less than 60%, morepreferably less than 50%, more preferably less than 40%, more preferablyless than 30%, more preferably less than 20%, and even more preferablyless than 10% of the entire known chroma range at the desired value andhue.

[0081] The display generator 44 can be any device which creates anoutput display of color samples of architectural paint colors. Theoutput display can be provided on the monitor display 52. FIGS. 19 and20 show two different embodiments of a sample monitor screen showing anoutput display or palette of architectural paint color samples accordingto the invention. In this embodiment, the relatively larger color samplein the center of the display is the reference paint color, and thesmaller samples are complementary and/or matching paint colors. In theillustrated embodiments, arrows labelled “lighter” and “darker” areprovided, which the user can click on to modify the value of the entirepalette. Similar arrows can be provided to adjust the chroma of theentire palette, as well.

[0082] The display generator 44 may also be configured to create ahard-copy display which the user can keep for future reference.Preferably, the hard-copy display is relatively small and light-weight.The paint color samples in the hard-copy display can be arranged in anysuitable manner, such as shown in FIG. 19, giving due consideration tothe goal of displaying the colors so that they can be easily comparedand contrasted. In one embodiment, the display generator 44 comprises aninkjet color printer which prints ink-based color samples which arereplications of paint color samples. An advantage of using an inkjetcolor printer to print ink-based color samples is that it is relativelyinexpensive compared to generating paint-based color samples.Preferably, the paint color samples are printed on pure white or nearlypure white paper, to minimize any effect of the paper color on the colorsamples. Of course, a display generator 44 which is capable ofgenerating paint-based color samples can be used in the system 36, ifdesired.

[0083] In addition to those described above, there are many differentcomplementary color selection and display modes possible for the system36. For instance, in addition to the complements of the input referencecolor, the user may wish to view (1) colors having values and chromasthat are somewhat offset from those of the input reference color, or (2)colors having hues which are somewhat offset from a hue of the six-wayharmony of the hue of the input reference color. For example, the usermay wish to view a color which is complementary to and has the samechroma as the input reference color, but has a somewhat higher or lowervalue. As another example, the user may wish to view a color which iscomplementary to, and has the same value as, the input reference color,but has a somewhat higher or lower chroma. Perhaps the user will wish toview a color which has the same value and chroma as the input referencecolor, but whose hue is somewhat varied from a hue which iscomplementary to that of. the input reference color. Such offsetting ofhue, value, and chroma may be done for each of the hues comprising thesix-way harmony that includes the hue of the input reference color.

[0084] Such different color selection and display modes may beimplemented as follows: The instructions 46 direct the processor 40 toselect and display pairs of paint colors, as defined below. For everycolor in the database 48, there is assigned a predetermined range ofhue, a predetermined range of value, and a predetermined range ofchroma. Such ranges include the hue, value, and chroma, respectively, ofthe particular color for which such ranges are assigned. Upon receivingan input reference color, the processor 40 selects from the database 48a reference paint color which is visually closest to it, i.e., closestin hue, value, and chroma. The reference paint color has a referencehue, reference value, and reference chroma. The processor determines a“complementary hue,” a hue that is five-way harmonious with thereference hue. The processor then selects from database 48 the colorwhich is closest to the complementary hue, reference value, andreference chroma. This color will be referred to herein as a “matchingcomplementary color.” The matching complementary color is essentiallycomplementary to the reference paint color, and has substantially thesame lightness and brightness levels. For any given reference paintcolor, there is one matching complementary color for every complementaryhue.

[0085] Then, the processor 40 selects from the database 48 a pair of“offset colors,” including a “first offset color” and a “second offsetcolor.” The pair of offset colors is within and at or near the endpointsof one of the predetermined ranges associated with the matchingcomplementary color. In one embodiment, the offset colors have differenthues. The first offset color. has a hue substantially equivalent to afirst endpoint of the predetermined range of hue corresponding to thematching complementary color. The second offset color has a huesubstantially equivalent to a second endpoint of the same predeterminedrange. The term “endpoints” refers to the hues at the ends of thepredetermined range of hue. The hues of the first and second offsetcolors are preferably within the predetermined range of hue and onopposite “sides” of the complementary hue. The value and chroma of thefirst and second offset colors may be substantially equal to thereference value and reference chroma, respectively. The processor 40preferably directs display generator 44 to create an output displayincluding at least one of the first and second offset colors.Advantageously, the user can view colors which have equivalent lightnessand brightness levels as the input reference color, and which have huesslightly offset from a hue that is complementary to that of the inputreference color.

[0086] Preferably, the hues of the first and second offset colors arevisually similar to the complementary hue (or reference hue, asdescribed below) from which they are offset. For example, if thecomplementary hue is generally blue, it may undesirable for theprocessor to select an offset color that is generally green or indigo.Thus, each paint color in the database 48 preferably has a predeterminedrange of hue which remains within the same general hue. In one preferredembodiment, each predetermined range of hue remains within one of theseven hue families defined by the acronym ROYGBIV (red, orange, yellow,green, blue, indigo, and violet), which defines the generalized sequenceof hues located about the value axis 20 (FIG. 1). In another preferredembodiment, if there are 90 color space portions 50 (FIG. 7), eachpredetermined range of hue preferably extends to no more than twelve,more preferably to no more than three, more preferably to no more thantwo, and even more preferably to no more than one color space portion 50_(i) on either side of the color space portion in which thecomplementary hue (or reference hue) resides. For example, if thecomplementary hue is in color space portion 50 ₁₀, the offset colors maypreferably reside in color space portions not farther away than colorspace portions 50 ₇ and 50 ₁₃. In yet another preferred embodiment, thehues of the offset colors vary from the hue of the matchingcomplementary color preferably by less than 48°, more preferably lessthan 42°, more preferably less than 36°, more preferably less than 30°,more preferably less than 24°, more preferably less than 18°, and evenmore preferably less than 12° about the value axis 20.

[0087] In another embodiment, the offset colors have different values.The first offset color has a value substantially equal to a firstendpoint of the predetermined range of value corresponding to thematching complementary color. The second offset color has a valuesubstantially equal to a second endpoint of the same predeterminedrange. The values of the first and second offset colors are preferablywithin the predetermined range of value, one of such values being higherand the other being lower than the reference value. The hue and chromaof the first and second offset colors are substantially equal to thecomplementary hue and reference chroma, respectively. The processor 40preferably directs display generator 44 to create an output displayincluding at least one of the first and second offset colors.Advantageously, the user can view colors which are complementary to andhave substantially the same brightness as the input reference color, andwhich are slightly darker or lighter than the input reference color. Ina preferred embodiment, the values of the offset colors are preferablywithin 30, more preferably within 25, more preferably within 20, morepreferably within 15, more preferably within 10, more preferably within5, more preferably within 3, and even more preferably within 2 of thevalue of the matching complementary color.

[0088] In another embodiment, the offset colors have different chromas.The first offset color has a chroma substantially equal to a firstendpoint of the predetermined range of chroma corresponding to thematching complementary color. The second offset color has a chromasubstantially equal to a second endpoint of the same predeterminedrange. The chromas of the first and second offset colors are preferablywithin the predetermined range of chroma, one of such chromas beinghigher and the other being lower than the reference chroma. The hue andvalue of the first and second offset colors are substantially equal tothe complementary hue and reference value, respectively. The processor40 preferably directs display generator 44 to create an output displayincluding at least one of the first and second offset colors.Advantageously, the user can view colors which are complementary to andhave substantially the same lightness as the input reference color, andwhich are slightly duller or brighter than the input reference color. Ina preferred embodiment, the chromas of the offset colors are within 30%,more preferably within 20%, and even more preferably within 10% of thechroma of the matching complementary color, wherein the listedpercentages are percentages of the known chroma range at the hue andvalue of the matching complementary color.

[0089] The system 36 may also be configured to create an output displayof colors which are somewhat varied from the hue, value, and chroma ofthe reference paint color, rather than those of the matchingcomplementary color. In other words, the methods just described abovemay be modified so that the first and second offset colors are chosenwith respect to the reference paint color, rather than the matchingcomplementary color. For example, in one embodiment the first and secondoffset colors have different hues. Accordingly, the first offset colorhas a hue substantially equivalent to a first endpoint of thepredetermined range of hue corresponding to the reference paint color,and the second offset color has a hue substantially equivalent to asecond endpoint of the same predetermined range. The hues of the firstand second offset colors are within the predetermined range of hue andon opposite “sides” of the reference hue. The value and chroma of thefirst and second offset colors are substantially equal to the referencevalue and reference chroma, respectively. The processor 40 preferablydirects display generator 44 to create an output display including atleast one of the first and second offset colors. Alternatively, thefirst and second offset colors can be chosen to have (1) values whichdiffer from the reference value, and hue and chroma substantially equalto the reference hue and reference chroma, reaspectively, or (2) chromaswhich differ from the reference chroma, and hue and value substantiallyequal to the reference hue and reference value, respectively.

[0090] In addition to selecting paint colors that are complementary to asingle input color, the system 36 may be configured so that the user hasthe option of entering or selecting two input colors. In other words,the system 36 may be configured to select paint colors that arecomplementary to a two-color scheme input. In one embodiment, the system36 generates an output display including color samples of the five-wayharmonies of each input color. In another embodiment, the system 36takes averages the hues of the two input colors and generates a five-wayharmony of the average hue. The same methods can be used for anymulti-color scheme input, i.e., two or more input colors.

[0091]FIG. 21 shows one embodiment of an in-store kiosk version 60 ofthe paint color matching and coordinating system 36 of the presentinvention. As shown, the kiosk 60 includes a CRT monitor 52, aspectrophotometer 62, a computer unit 64, and a printer 66. The system36 may be operated by a keyboard 68, mouse 70, and/or a touch-screeninterface on the screen of the monitor 52. The computer unit 64 includesthe previously described processor 40 and memory 42 storing thearchitectural paint color database 48 of the present invention.Advantageously, consumers can use the kiosk 60 while shopping to aid inthe selection and coordination of architectural paint colors.Preferably, the display system described in the Display System PatentApplication is provided in conjunction with the matching andcoordinating system of the present invention, to further assistconsumers in paint color selection.

[0092] The kiosk system 60 of the present invention can be provided inmultiple locations within a retail store. FIG. 22 illustrates thisconcept. A first kiosk is advantageously located within the paintdepartment of the store. This kiosk may advantageously be networked withother satellite kiosks distributed throughout the remainder of thestore, such as in the floor covering, window covering, and wall coveringdepartments. In one embodiment, all of the satellite kiosks are scaleddown versions of the paint department kiosk and include a computer, ascreen which may advantageously be the same screen used for ringing upcustomer transactions, and a spectrophotometer. The satellite “kiosks”are electronically connected to the central paint department kiosk andmay advantageously access the architectural paint color database 48. Thesatellite spectrophotometers are used to permit the scanning of physicalsamples, and the kiosk in the paint department has a printer forprinting the paint color samples as described above. In anotherembodiment, all of the kiosks have printers. This multiple kiosk systemprovides the advantages of convenience and ease of shopping. Forexample, a consumer may be in the window covering department selecting acolor of window covering. The consumer may desire to scan a physicalsample of the selected window covering to determine complementaryarchitectural paint colors. While in the window covering department ofthe store, the consumer can conveniently select paint colors thatcomplement the chosen color of the window covering. The consumer doesnot have to take a physical sample of the window covering to the paintdepartment to use the system.

[0093] The system 36 may be configured to receive one or more finalpaint color selections after the customer has decided to purchase one ormore paints having selected paint colors. In this case, the customer mayuse the interface 38 to identify the selected paint colors and thequantities of which are desired for purchase. The system may beconfigured to send this information to a paint technician trained tooperate a paint base/colorant mixing apparatus which produces thedesired paint(s). Alternatively, the system may be configured to controlthe mixing apparatus to automatically produce the desired paint(s).

[0094] In another aspect of the invention, the system 36 resides in astore and is capable of providing a listing of items sold in the storewhose colors are within an output palette of complementary paint colorsgenerated by the system. According to this aspect of the invention, thedatabase 48 contains color information of inventory contained within thestore or within a network of stores. Such color information may be inthe form of D65 CIELAB, LCH, or any of a variety of other suitable colorreference systems. The color information preferably identifies one ormore of the dominant colors of every item of inventory whose colorinformation is included within database 48. The system is configured sothat after a user directs the system 36 to generate an output palette ofharmonious paint colors, as described above, the user can then query thesystem to provide a list of items sold in the store whose dominantcolors are within or near the colors displayed on the output palette.Upon receiving the query, the system compares the colors on the outputpalette to the colors of the inventory stored in the database, andselects those items whose colors are within a predetermined tolerance ofany of the colors on the output palette. For example, a user may directthe system to generate an output palette of harmonious paint colors thatthe user intends to use to paint the interior of a bathroom. The systemcan then provide a listing of store inventory, such as bath towels,pottery, or rugs, whose colors are harmonious with the paint colors ofthe output palette.

[0095] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the system36 of the present invention may be implemented outside of the paintretail store environment. For example, the system 36 can be implementedon a network server so that a user can access the system over a localarea network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the internet. Forexample, the system may be accessible over the internet so that a usermay access the system from a home or office computer. All of theabove-described features can be included. For example, the appropriatearchitectural paint colors can be downloaded from the database 44 to theuser's monitor display. The user can select an input reference color by(1) selecting a paint color from the database 48, (2) inputting a coloridentification code from a known color reference system, (3) inputtingor selecting a common color name, or (4) if the user has aspectrophotometer, scanning a color into the system 36 from a physicalspecimen. Finally, the user can obtain a hard-copy printout of paintcolors if the user has a suitable printer. The settings for the printerand the monitor could be sent to the user's computer for automaticallypreparing the user's computer monitor and printer for the truestpossible color viewing.

[0096] Although this invention has been disclosed in the context ofcertain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present inventionherein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosedembodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fairreading of the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of generating a display of complementaryarchitectural paint color samples, comprising the steps of: receiving aninput reference color having a reference hue; selecting a first set ofarchitectural paint colors having a first hue that is complementary tosaid reference hue; and displaying one or more color samples from saidfirst set of architectural paint colors on one of a display monitor or ahard-copy printout.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first hue isone of the hues comprising the five-way harmony of said reference hue.3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: selectingsecond, third, fourth, and fifth sets of architectural paint colorshaving second, third, fourth, and fifth hues, respectively, that, alongwith said first hue, collectively comprise the five-way harmony of saidreference hue; and displaying one or more color samples from saidsecond, third, fourth, and fifth sets of architectural paint colors onone of a display monitor or a hard-copy printout.
 4. The method of claim3, further comprising the steps of: selecting a sixth set ofarchitectural paint colors having said reference hue; and displaying oneor more color samples from said sixth set of architectural paint colorson one of a display monitor or a hard-copy printout.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said first hue is a split-complement of said referencehue.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:selecting a second set of architectural paint colors having a second huewhich is a split-complement of said reference hue, said second hue beingdifferent from said first hue; and displaying one or more color samplesfrom said second set of architectural paint colors on one of a displaymonitor or a hard-copy printout.
 7. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising the steps of: selecting a third set of architectural paintcolors having said reference hue; and displaying one or more colorsamples from said third set of architectural paint colors on one of adisplay monitor or a hard-copy printout.
 8. An architectural paint colorcoordination system for selecting complementary architectural paintcolors, comprising: an interface for receiving an input reference color;a processor configured to perform instructions read from a memory; amemory storing instructions configured to be read and performed by saidprocessor; and a display generator; wherein said instructions directsaid processor to perform the steps of: directing said interface toreceive an input reference color having a reference hue, with respect toa color space; selecting a first set of architectural paint colorshaving a first hue that is one of the hues of the five-way harmony ofsaid reference hue; and directing said display generator to displaycolor samples of said first set of architectural paint colors.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein said instructions direct said processor toperform the further steps of: selecting second, third, fourth, and fifthsets of architectural paint colors having first, second, third, fourth,and fifth hues, respectively, that, along with said first hue,collectively comprise the five-way harmony of said reference hue; anddirecting said display generator to display color samples of saidsecond, third, fourth, and fifth sets of architectural paint colors. 10.The system of claim 9, wherein said instructions further direct saidprocessor to perform the steps of: selecting a sixth set ofarchitectural paint colors having said reference hue; and directing saiddisplay generator to display color samples of said sixth set ofarchitectural paint colors.
 11. An inventory selection system,comprising: an architectural paint color selection system configured togenerate an output display of harmonious paint colors and to communicatecolor information of said paint colors to a processor; a database ofinventory, said database containing color information of items of saidinventory; and a processor in communication with said paint colorselection system to read said color information of said paint colors andwith said database to read said color information of said items ofinventory; wherein said processor is configured to select matchinginventory from said database whose color information is within apredetermined tolerance of the color information of any of said paintcolors, said processor also configured to provide a listing of saidmatching inventory.